Dean said the fire was classified as arson but declined to
say how it started, citing an ongoing investigation of the incident. However,
he confirmed reports that a car parked in the driveway had been on fire.

"We're following on some leads on a potential suspect of
the fire," he said.

The homeowner, Shamesha Webster, who lived there with her
two children, is not a suspect, Dean said.

At the time of incident, she was staying with her family in
Grand Rapids and planned to take her children to a parade on Saturday morning,
he said. He said Webster told them that she was last at the house at around 11
p.m. and had locked her home.

Dean said witness statements indicated that there was a
15-minute delay in reporting the fire.

"That delay played a huge role in the amount of destruction in
the home," he said.

Webster lost all her belongings in the home, he said.

The house was uninsured, Dean said. Webster had let
her home insurance lapse as a cost-saving measure because she had difficulty
finding steady work. Webster was aided by the Red Cross, he said.

He asked that anyone with information about the fire call 1-800-44-ARSON.
A
$5,000 reward is being offered to information that leads to an arrest and
conviction of the person responsible for setting the fire.

Those with information can also contact the Muskegon Heights
Fire Department directly at (231) 733-8896, or Silent Observer at 72-CRIME.